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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Watchdog reconsiders trickle plan | Watchdog reconsiders trickle plan |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Water regulator Ofwat is to consider proposals to limit water supplies for households in England and Wales that do not pay their bills. | Water regulator Ofwat is to consider proposals to limit water supplies for households in England and Wales that do not pay their bills. |
| Homes could be fitted with valves restricting water to a trickle to help recover more than £1bn in unpaid bills. | Homes could be fitted with valves restricting water to a trickle to help recover more than £1bn in unpaid bills. |
| Water firms are currently not allowed to cut anyone off because water is considered an essential service. | Water firms are currently not allowed to cut anyone off because water is considered an essential service. |
| But Ofwat said it would examine plans, supported by firms, to overturn a 1999 ban on trickle flow devices. | |
| 'Safeguards' | 'Safeguards' |
| Trickle devices would leave households with enough to drink, but not enough for a shower. | Trickle devices would leave households with enough to drink, but not enough for a shower. |
| However the body representing water customers said the move would be "ineffective and "uncivilised". | However the body representing water customers said the move would be "ineffective and "uncivilised". |
| Bad debt adds about £11 a year to each customer's bill. | Bad debt adds about £11 a year to each customer's bill. |
| The Walker Interim review into the sector proposed looking at removing the ban on trickle-flow devices. | |
| Ofwat said it supported this action, "as long as appropriate safeguards are in place to protect consumers". | Ofwat said it supported this action, "as long as appropriate safeguards are in place to protect consumers". |
| "We believe we need to obtain satisfactory information on the costs, benefits and practical implications of trickle-flow devices," the regulator added. | "We believe we need to obtain satisfactory information on the costs, benefits and practical implications of trickle-flow devices," the regulator added. |
| "The companies' implementation plans would need to protect the most vulnerable customers and those who cannot pay." | "The companies' implementation plans would need to protect the most vulnerable customers and those who cannot pay." |
| 'Sanitation implication' | 'Sanitation implication' |
| The Consumer Council For Water, which represents water users, said the devices would not help raise substantial revenue. | The Consumer Council For Water, which represents water users, said the devices would not help raise substantial revenue. |
| "The problem of debt in the water industry is one that has to be tackled, but we don't think this is the way forward," said policy director Andy White. | "The problem of debt in the water industry is one that has to be tackled, but we don't think this is the way forward," said policy director Andy White. |
| "Turning back the clock and going to things such as trickle flow in the current society is inappropriate." | "Turning back the clock and going to things such as trickle flow in the current society is inappropriate." |
| While people would have enough to drink, there were implications for sanitation and bathing, Mr White said. | While people would have enough to drink, there were implications for sanitation and bathing, Mr White said. |
| "Even if the water companies were able to identify with 100% clarity which customers were 'can't pay' and which were 'won't pay', that's not to say the kids of those 'won't pay' customers deserve to be in a household where water is reduced to a trickle. | "Even if the water companies were able to identify with 100% clarity which customers were 'can't pay' and which were 'won't pay', that's not to say the kids of those 'won't pay' customers deserve to be in a household where water is reduced to a trickle. |
| "It's not a particularly effective way of addressing the problem, nor is it civilised in our society." | "It's not a particularly effective way of addressing the problem, nor is it civilised in our society." |
| Mr White called on water companies to improve the way they dealt with customers instead, and to identify and help those who struggled with budgeting. | Mr White called on water companies to improve the way they dealt with customers instead, and to identify and help those who struggled with budgeting. |
| This could include making it easy for people to pay water directly through benefit payments, he said. | This could include making it easy for people to pay water directly through benefit payments, he said. |
| Many unpaid water bills came when people moved on from rented properties, leaving a debt behind them, Mr White added. | Many unpaid water bills came when people moved on from rented properties, leaving a debt behind them, Mr White added. |
| "In those cases introducing trickle flow would be totally ineffective." | "In those cases introducing trickle flow would be totally ineffective." |